Mobile container

ABSTRACT

A mobile container has a functional space and a technical module for power supply and/or air conditioning of the functional space. The technical module can be extended from and retracted into the container and is provided with a closing plate facing the container exterior. The technical module has a second closing plate facing the container interior. Devices are provided to firmly connect the inner closing plate with the container when the technical module is in its extended position and to firmly connect both closing plates with the container when it is in its retracted position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mobile container having a functionalspace and a technical module for power supply and/or air conditioning ofthe functional space, wherein the technical module is extendable fromand retractable into the container and has a first closing plate facinga container exterior.

Today, containers are used in a wide variety of applications as mobileworkspaces or living quarters. For independent use in areas withoutadequate infrastructure, or for operational independence, thesecontainers have not only a functional space, i.e., the actual workroomor living space, but also a technical space housing units and systemsfor air conditioning, power supply and control of the functional space(e.g., DE 299 18 368 U1). Such a container is depicted in FIG. 1A. Afixed internal wall W separates the functional space FR from thetechnical space TR.

This separation into functional space and technical space is also usedfor expandable containers in which the functional space is expanded onone or two sides (so-called 1:2 or 1:3 configurations illustrated inFIG. 2 a in contrast to the 1:1 configuration shown in FIG. 1A) by wayof slide-out assemblies and/or foldable sidewalls (EP 0 682 156 A1, DE G92 16 313 U1). Other containers with 1:2 configurations are disclosed,for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,756, U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,782, GBPatent No. 2 006 298 A and U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,698.

A drawback in building the technical space within the container is thatit reduces the interior volume. Furthermore, the presence of theinternal partition requires an external access to the technical space,which reduces the torsional rigidity of the entire container duringtransport and thereby limits standard transports (e.g., multiplestacking for sea transport).

The German publication “Deutsche Bauzeitung,” No. 3, pp. 257-258,describes a mobile container in which the technical space is configuredas a slide-out technical module. This, however, solves only the problemof the reduced interior volume of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a container withoptimized torsional rigidity based on the container described in theGerman publication “Deutsche Bauzeitung,” No. 3, pp. 257-258.

This object is attained by providing a mobile container in which thetechnical module has a second closing plate facing the containerinterior, and apparatus is provided to firmly connect the second closingplate with the container when the technical module in its extendedposition and to firmly connect the first and second closing plates withthe container in its retracted position.

The container according to the present invention has a technical modulewhich can be retracted into and extended from the container and whichhouses power supply and/or air conditioning units and systems andpossibly other technical supply and control units. The interior of thecontainer, in its operational configuration, can thus be expanded to itsfull volume (e.g., the standard interior volume of a 20′ ISO container).The technical module can be extended while the container is in itsoperational state. A further advantage is that the container accordingto the present invention remains operational even in its transportconfiguration when the technical module is retracted. External cabling,hoses, etc. are also not necessary.

According to the present invention, the technical module has two closingplates facing the container interior and exterior. These closing platescan be firmly connected with the container in both the retracted andextended position of the technical module. In the transport position(technical module retracted) both the inner plate and outer plate areconnected, e.g., bolted, to the container. The outer plate then forms anoutside wall of the container. The firm connection of the two plateswith the container substantially increases the torsional rigidity of thecontainer. In the operational configuration, only the inner plate isfirmly connected to the container. In this configuration, the innerplate also serves as the boundary between the functional space and theoutside.

In one advantageous embodiment, the container is configured in such away that in the retracted position of the technical module the outerclosing plate is firmly connected, e.g., bolted, to the container. Inaddition, a firm connection between the inner closing plate and thecontainer is ensured by one or more guide pins which engage with areceiving bore in the container for a positive-locking connection. Anadditional, e.g., bolted, connection between the inner closing plate andthe container is not necessary in this case. The described configurationusing guide pins thus makes it possible to rapidly move the technicalmodule from its extended position to its retracted position.

In another advantageous embodiment, additional guide pins are disposedon the inner closing plate in such a way that these additional guidepins engage with receiving bores in the container to provide apositive-locking connection when the technical module is in its extendedposition. In addition, the inner closing plate is firmly connected,e.g., bolted, to the container.

The units located in the technical space often have a considerableamount of weight. The solution according to the invention, i.e., tofirmly connect both closing plates of the technical module with thecontainer when the technical module is in its retracted state, makes itpossible to transmit to the container the forces of these units actingon the container directly at the point of their origin.

The mobile technical module is advantageously supported on rollers orrails. Sliding seals may be used to seal the functional space toward theoutside on the side formed by the displaceable technical module. Anotherembodiment uses inflatable seals, which are inflated after the technicalmodule has reached its end position.

The container can be transported analogously to standard containers(e.g., 20′ ISO containers). The increased torsional rigidity allowsmultiple stacking to a greater extent (e.g., for sea transport).

In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, the container isconfigured as a cuboid with a rectangular plan. In this embodiment, thetechnical module is provided, in particular, on one of the transversesides of the cuboid container and is displaceable in longitudinaldirection. If the cross section of the technical module is substantiallythe same size as the cross section of the cuboid container, the interiorvolume can be expanded across the full interior height and width of thecontainer.

The concept of the displaceable technical module is, of course, alsosuitable for containers with variable interior volume which have theability to expand the volume on one or more sides. If these containersare, for example, expanded on one or both longitudinal sides, thetechnical module is advantageously provided on a transverse side of thecontainer, such that it is displaceable in longitudinal direction.

The present invention is particularly suited for standard 20′ ISOcontainers (particularly containers made of steel or aluminum). It is,of course, also suited for containers with other dimensions or for fixedtruck shells. The functional space can also be configured as a first aidstation or an operating room.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1A-1C are schematic plan views of several embodiments with anon-expandable interior volume (so-called 1:1 configuration) in whichFIG. 1A shows a prior art a container.

FIGS. 2A-2B are schematic plan views of the embodiments with expandableinterior volume (1:3 configuration) in which FIG. 2A shows a prior artcontainer.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment according to thepresent invention with expandable interior volume (1:3 configuration).

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment according to the presentinvention with an additional diagonal strut shown in the retracted andfully extended states.

FIG. 5 is a side view of another embodiment of the container accordingto the present invention illustrating three different positions(retracted, transitional, extended) of the module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1A shows a standard 20′ prior art container C with an internal,fixed partition W between the technical space TR and the functionalspace FR. The technical space TR reduces the functional space FR. Theadditionally required external access door FT configured as a doubledoor for the technical space TR decreases the rigidity of the containerC, particularly during transport. The internal partition W, on the otherhand, increases the rigidity.

FIG. 1B shows a container C according to the invention, based on astandard 20′ container, in its transport configuration, i.e., withcompletely retracted technical module TM. In this embodiment thetechnical module TM is arranged on the transverse side of the containerC and is displaceable in the longitudinal direction. In this position,the volume of the functional space FR corresponds to the volume of thecontainer C shown in FIG. 1A. Both closing plates AA, A1 of thetechnical module TM are bolted to the container. This increases therigidity of the container C.

FIG. 1C shows the container C according to the invention depicted inFIG. 1B but in its operational configuration, i.e., with fully extendedtechnical module TM. The inner closing plate A1 of the technical moduleTM is fixed, e.g., bolted, to the end frame member of the container. Incontrast to the prior-art container shown in FIG. 1A, the volume of thefunctional space FR is now increased by the hatched area.

FIG. 2A shows a prior art expandable container C. On the longitudinalsides, an additional box element Z can be extended from the basiccontainer C to expand the usable interior volume of the functional spaceFR. Here, a number of different systems are known, all of which can becombined with the solution according to the invention. For example, anadditional box element Z may consist of a horseshoe-shaped component,such that the ceiling and floor areas required for a complete externalseal are formed by container sidewalls, which can be folded up or down(DE G 92 16 314 U1). In another prior-art design, the additional boxelement Z is formed by a cuboid component such that only the side facingthe basic container is open. In addition, a lowering mechanism may beprovided to lower the floor area of the additional box element to thelevel of the floor area of the basic container (EP 0 682 156 A1). As afunction of the design, the interior heights in the area of theadditional box element Z are lower than in the basic container. For therest, the basic container with a separate technical space according toFIG. 2A corresponds to the container illustrated in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2B, which is based on the prior art container depicted in FIG. 2A,shows a container C according to the invention with a displaceabletechnical module TM. The technical module TM is fully extended. Thespace thus obtained (hatched) is particularly valuable because it islocated within the area with maximum interior height.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a container according to theinvention. This embodiment essentially corresponds to the container C ofFIG. 2B, which can be expanded by two additional box elements Z. Thetechnical module TM can be extended and retracted by telescopic railsTS. The figure also shows the two closing plates AI, AA of the technicalmodule TM. On the sidewalls of the technical module TM, parallel to itsdisplacement direction, air conditioning intake and outlet areas L maybe advantageously provided. This simplifies the incoming and exhaust airrouting for the air conditioning system. The remaining areas in thesidewalls of the extended technical module TM can be used to access thetechnical module.

FIG. 4 shows side views of the container C according to the invention,i.e., in the retracted state (top) and in the fully extended state. Thebottom view shows an additional diagonal strut DS, which improvesstability in the extended state. The technical module Z can be retractedand extended using, for example, a winch unit with a strap. Suchmeasures are known per se, e.g., from EP 0 682 156 A1.

FIG. 5 shows a particularly advantageous embodiment of the containeraccording to the invention in a side view illustrating the threedifferent positions of the technical module:

Top: technical module TM (with technical space TR) retracted intocontainer C (with functional space FR),

Center: transition between retracted and extended position,

Bottom: technical module TM fully extended.

The embodiment shown in this figures is distinguished by the use ofguide pins ZBI, ZBA on the two sides of the inner closing plate AI ofthe technical module. One guide pin ZBI is disposed on the side facingthe container interior. The other guide pin ZBA is disposed on the sideof the closing plate AI facing the exterior. The guide pins ZBI, ZBAsecure the position of the displaceable technical module TM relative tothe container C. The function and advantages of the guide pins will nowbe described in greater detail.

The top illustration of FIG. 5 (position 1) shows how the guide pin ZBIengages with the receiving bore in the container C for apositive-locking connection when the technical module is in itsretracted position. In this embodiment, the receiving bore is arranged,for example, in a member PI on the sidewall of the container C. Theforce of the technical module TM in longitudinal direction of thecontainer is produced by bolts S with which the outer closing plate AAof the technical module is fixed to the end frame member PA of thecontainer from the outside (position 2). For this purpose, a threadedbore GB is provided on the end frame member PA. Hence, the bolts S,arranged in a single plane, enable not only the firm connection betweenthe outer closing plate AA and the end frame member PA but also providethe positive locking connection between the inner closing plate AI andthe inner member PI because of the guide pins ZBI. In this embodimentthe technical module TM can be moved quickly from its extended to itsretracted position.

The bottom illustration, which depicts the extended position of thetechnical module TM (position 3), shows how the inner closing plate AIis connected by bolts S to the end frame member PA of the container Cfrom the inside. Here, too, there are guide pins ZBA, which engage withindentations made in the end frame member PA for a positive-lockingconnection to ensure the correct positioning of the technical module TMin relation to the container C.

1-9. (Cancelled)
 10. Mobile container having a functional space and atechnical module for power supply and/or air conditioning of thefunctional space wherein the technical module is extendable from andretractable into the container and has a first closing plate facing acontainer exterior, whereas the technical module has a second closingplate facing the container interior, and apparatus is provided to firmlyconnect the second closing plate with the container when the technicalmodule in its extended position and to firmly connect the first andsecond closing plates with the container in its retracted position. 11.Mobile container as claimed in claim 10, wherein the container has arectangular floorplan, and the technical module is disposed on atransverse side and is displaceable parallel to a longitudinal axis ofthe container.
 12. Mobile container as claimed in claim 10, whereinmeans is provided on at least one of the two longitudinal sides of thecontainer for expanding the volume of the functional space.
 13. Mobilecontainer as claimed in claim 12, wherein the means comprises at leastone of slide-out assemblies and apparatus for folding individual areasof a shell of the container.
 14. Mobile container as claimed in claim10, wherein the cross section of the technical module is substantiallythe same as the cross section of the container.
 15. Mobile container asclaimed in claim 10, wherein the first closing plate is firmlyconnectable to the container ring bolts with the technical module in aretracted position.
 16. Mobile container as claimed in claim 10, whereinthe second closing plate is firmly connectable to the container boltswith the technical module in an extended position.
 17. Mobile containeras claimed in claim 10, wherein guide pins are provided on the secondclosing plate, to engage with receiving bores on the container for apositive-locking connection the technical module in a retractedposition.
 18. Mobile container as claimed in claim 10, wherein guidepins are provided on the second closing plate to engage with receivingbores on the container for a positive-locking connection with thetechnical module in an extended position.